by Al Heath
Coastal Journal contributor
Have you ever thought about exactly what it is that makes energy in general, and fossil fuel energy in particular, so special, so important to us humans in the 21st century? Modern thought would have you believe there are two reasons: 1. Our culture, economy, and lifestyle depend on it. 2. We are very quickly changing our planet for the worse by using it so rapidly. Now I agree with both of these statements (mostly), but I would also like to suggest a third reason for us to conserve, protect, and revere (yes, I said revere, as in “hold in highest regard, venerate”) our fossil fuel resources: it is totally amazing and very, very cool stuff.
My work with solar energy has taught me to see fossil fuels in a new and much more respectful light. Someone from Chewonki recently bemoaned the fact that a large and rather pricey array of solar collectors only produced about a half gallons worth of propane's energy in an entire day of collection. That didn't seem possible, so I did the numbers and ……… they were right! It is not that solar collectors are not great energy producers (they are!), but rather that propane and other fossil fuels pack one heck of an energy punch.
Remember where fossil fuels come from? Yep, its made up of decayed dinosaurs, grass, butterflies, trees, mushrooms, algae that had been composting and concentrating for a few million years. (How'd it get underground? ….hmmmm… dinosaur graveyards??? Maybe one of our more astute Coastal Journal readers will email me that answer.) Not only is it made from our composted ancestors, fossil fuels are (were?) a plentiful and astoundingly concentrated source of energy, as in lots of BTUs (or joules, KWH, calories) per gallon.
Propane 91,000 BTU/gal
Heating Oil 140,000 BTU/gal
Kerosene 135,000 BTU/gal
Gasoline 125,000 BTU/gal
Firewood 20,000,000 BTU/cord
1 Kilowatt hour 3412 BTU
Consider this: a gallon of gasoline contains 125,000 BTU's of energy. Converted to human scale energy, that's 31,500,000 calories. Average active adults (whoever they are?) need about 2000 dietary calories per day, or about 2 million real calories. That's almost 16 days days worth of human energy in every gallon! Remember that all this energy comes from the same source… well digested organic material. Amazing, eh! Are you feeling any more reverential? I'll expect to see a genuflect before your next fill up.
What does this mean for the average Mainer? The human body is an astoundingly efficient machine and fossil fuels are an amazing energy source! If we had unlimited fuel resources and if our planet could absorb an infinite amount of CO2 we'd be all set. Yeah, I hear all you Ostriches out there growling about tar and feathering Al Gore to the old oak tree to show him how nice our current global warming winter is, but, keep in mind that 10 out of the 11 hottest years of recorded history have happened since 1995. So, if you're not saving energy to save the planet, then do it because it's such an amazing and precious resource, or do it to conserve your bank account. Just do it!
Next time: The average Maine home uses 1050 gallons of heating oil per season (147 Billion BTU's/37 Trillion calories). Where does it go and how to slow it down...next time.
Al Heath was a carpenter/builder in the Bath area for 12 years. Four years ago he and his wife designed and built a super-insulated, passive solar home with an active solar hot water system. He now works as a Nurse Practitioner in the ER and Family Practice and has a part-time business consulting with builders and homeowners on energy efficiency practices. Please contact with your ideas and comments at:
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